THROWBACK THURSDAY: ICONIC LOCOMOTIVE 4501 TO RIDE AGAIN WITH HISTORICALLY SOURCED TENDER: DISCOVER THE STORY BEHIND THE ENGINE

Many visitors are familiar with the museum’s flagship locomotive 4501, and although it continues in operation at TVRM much as it did in the 1930s, the tender behind it was not always behind 4501. This ‘new’ tender was sourced to carry additional coal and water, in the Southern excursion era, after it was discovered on a wreck train in 1968. This is a photograph of that day, as it was discovered, in 1969. That tender came from a Southern, previously Central of Georgia Maintenance of Way wreck-train, where it was operated with a steam derrick. It founds its way into maintenance service after the locomotive it was built for, Central of Georgia No 773, suffered a severe boiler explosion on the 1st of June 1947. During 4501’s 1981-1984 overhaul, the original riveted tank was replaced with the current welded copy by Norfolk Southern in 1983.

This iconic engine will be featured on the Missionary Ridge Local and The Evening Ridge Runner this weekend (August 19 & 20) . Come ride with us!